Kathryn Beale, 41, turns
women’s placentas into smoothies and pills at her home in
Swindon, Wiltshire, and says she maintains a high standard of
hygiene throughout the process.

However, when Swindon Borough Council caught a whiff of the
mother of two’s activities, they went to court to apply for an
emergency prohibition order.

A council spokesperson told the Guardian: “We can confirm public
protection officers attended court on Tuesday 10 March seeking a
hygiene emergency prohibition order in respect of raw human
placenta practices.

“Our investigations continue, and we are therefore unable to
comment further at this stage. While the health benefits of this
activity are not clear, the processes involved in the production
of human placenta for human consumption present a number of
potentially serious health risks, which explains this
action.”

The attempt to get a legal injunction failed, but Beale
volunteered to stop making the smoothies until she could gain a
proper official hygiene rating.

A committed proponent of ingesting placentas, Beale told the
Daily Mail: “Most species of mammal eat their own placenta
straight after birth, raw – it is normal in the animal
kingdom.

“We are unusual in that we don't routinely do it. It is full
of iron, stem cells and hormones and is reputed to help with milk
production and post-natal depression.”

Beale makes the smoothies by cutting up small pieces of placenta
and blending them with fruit. The remainder of the organ can then
by dehydrated and ground.

It is then processed into pill form using a Chinese method in
which ingredients like ginger, chili and lemon are added.

The only placenta an individual is allowed to ingest is their
own, Beale told the Guardian.

“Somebody, I don’t know who, contacted the council and asked
what my hygiene rating was, and I don’t have one yet. Hopefully
it will be sorted soon and someone will come, inspect my
equipment and give me a hygiene rating.”

“The health benefits are great. After giving birth, most mums
are anemic to some extent, and placenta is full of iron, so it
helps with that. It also helps with postnatal depression, baby
blues and milk production,” she said.

The practice of ingesting placenta is known as placentophagy and
has a long and presumably rather messy history.